245 



to convert morphia into codeine fails, though the addition of the re- 

 quisite amount of carbon and hydrogen to the former is readily- 

 effected. It was further remarked that the circumstance of both 

 these alkaloids furnishing the same results, under the given circum- 

 stances, possibly arose from their similar origin ; and that it was in- 

 tended to examine other alkaloids of opium, and some from other 

 sources, in the same way. In the present memoir it is shown that 

 attempts to produce ammonium bases from other alkaloids of opium 

 have not been successful ; but this result has been obtained from 

 strychnine, and the new products have admitted of more detailed ex- 

 amination, from their possessing a more stable nature than the 

 analogous derivatives from morphia and codeine. 



Behaviour of Papaverine with Iodide of Ethyl. 



Hydriodate of Papaverine. — The next base from opium sub- 

 mitted to trial was papaverine, an alkaloid of well-marked characters, 

 and the subject of some recent researches of Dr T. Anderson.* It was 

 found that, by heating some of this substance in a sealed tube with 

 spirit of wine and iodide of ethyl, it is converted into an hydriodate 

 with great ease. The salt proved to be that of the unchanged alka- 

 loid, of the formula, 



C,„ U,, NOs, HI. 



It is extremely soluble in water, and the moment the heat is with- 

 drawn from a strong solution, the fluid becomes milky, and an oil is 

 deposited, which assumes a crystalline solid form in the course of a 

 few hours. It is unaltered in the air, but decomposed, at least 

 partially, at 212° Fahr. 



All doubt as to the nature of the base in this salt was removed by 

 its analysis when set free, by the action of ammonia on the hydriodate. 

 The white crystalline deposit so obtained, gave, after one crystalli- 

 zation from dilute spirit, analytical results perfectly in accordance 

 with the formula, 



which is that of papaverine. Its reactions were also identical with 

 those characteristic of the alkaloid. 



Narcotine and Iodide of Ethyl. 

 Hydriodate of Narcotine. — This opium base behaved exactly like 

 •* Trans. Roy. Soc. Edin., vol. xxi., part i. 



